Spinal cord injury
Learn more about the spinal cord as a part of the central nervous system and the influence of a damage on the body.
Download PDF | 1 MBParaplegia - Spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injury is not something that affects the few. Worldwide, more than 3 million people are living with a spinal cord injury. Often, this does not only mean the inability to move one’s legs, but there are extensive additional consequences and restrictions on daily life.
Spinal cord injury
The higher,
the worse
The types of disability associated with spinal cord injury vary greatly depending on the severity of the injury, the segment of the spinal cord at which the injury occurs and which nerve fibres are damaged. Basically, all functions below the point of injury fail.
The destruction of nerve fibres that carry motor signals from the brain to the torso and limbs leads to muscle paralysis.
Damage of sensory nerve fibres that carry signals from the limbs to the brain can lead to loss of sensations such as touch, pressure and temperature. What is not common knowledge is that a spinal cord injury also impairs bodily functions such as bladder, bowel, sexual function, blood pressure and temperature regulation.
Cervical Nerves
Injury of the cervical nerves (tetraplegia)
A spinal cord injury in the vertebra region induces a paralysis in all four extremities (arms and legs). This is called tetraplegia. How badly the wrist and hand functions are affected depends on the level of injury. People with injuries above C4 (4th cervical vertebra) may require a ventilator in order to breathe. Additionally, there is the loss of sensitivity, sensation and control of body functions, such as bladder and bowel.
Causes
Prognosis
Curable
Injured nerve cells are able to regenerate
Intriguingly, it appears that salvaging normal activity in as little as 10 percent of the axons present in the intact spinal cord could be enough to recover partial movement abilities. The scientific community agrees: Paraplegia will be curable one day.
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